David Gemmell: Honorary Alderman who helped deliver The Deep dies aged 82

‘DEEPLY COMMITTED TO HULL’: David Gemmell OBE

By Angus Young

Tributes have been paid to former Lord Mayor of Hull David Gemmell, best known for being the political driving force behind The Deep.

The ex- Labour councillor died in Hull Royal Infirmary after a short illness. He was 82.

He was due to retire as chairman of the award-winning visitor attraction later this summer having held the position since the venue opened in 2002.

As chairman of Hull City Council’s Leisure Services committee in the late 1990s, he came up with the idea of a major new tourism development in the city.

Initially, talks were held with the Natural History Museum in London about the possibility of opening a Northern outpost in Hull.

Undeterred when negotiations faltered, he instead decided to push on with ambitious plans for a state-of-the-art aquarium combined with an academic research facility and a new business centre.

Famously, he and council’s leisure services director Colin Brown first mapped out those plans on a paper napkin as they returned Hull by train from a meeting in London.

Mr Brown would later leave the council to become The Deep’s chief executive while Mr Gemmell became chairman of the charitable company set up to oversee its operation.

Mr Gemmell also spearhead the funding bid which helped create Hull History Centre in a partnership between the council and the University of Hull.

Mr Gemmell became a Labour councillor after working in engineering and holding various positions as a trades union representative.

He served as Lord Mayor of Hull in 2011-12 and was made an Honorary Alderman when he retired as a councillor.

His wife Moira, who acted as Lady Mayoress during his civic year, died in May last year.

Former council leader Colin Inglis said: “He will be remembered most for The Deep but I will remember him as a good and loyal friend and comrade who was deeply committed to Hull and the city council.”

Hull North MP Dame Diana Johnson said: “I am very sad to hear of the death of my friend Honorary Alderman David Gemmell OBE.

“He was proud of Hull and we were of all he achieved for the city, including delivering The Deep.”